Another woman, cocktail waitress Jaimee Grubbs, yesterday apologised to the golfer's wife Elin. In an interview with showbiz news programme Extra, Ms Grubbs said: "I couldn't describe how remorseful that I am to have hurt her family and her emotionally."

But she defended herself by saying: "If it wasn't me, it was going to be the other girls."

The number of women who have come forward with claims of a sexual involvement with Woods now stands in double figures.

Father-of-two Woods, 33, has not commented directly on the allegations but last week referred to "personal sins" and "transgressions" and apologised for letting his family down.

The damage to his previously wholesome image appears to have begun affecting some of his lucrative endorsements.

Adverts featuring the golfer have apparently disappeared from prime-time television broadcasts in the United States.

And sports drink maker Gatorade this week became the first company to drop its endorsement of Woods, although the firm said its decision was made months ago.

But a report in People magazine today claims his wife is prepared to stay with Woods despite the allegations.

A source close to Elin Nordegren apparently told the publication she was "devastated" by recent stories of widespread cheating, but that she would remain in the family home for the sake of their children.